FILTER Magazine #56

By Nevin Martell on November 17, 2011

Many pundits worried that Noel Gallagher was so far past his prime that he was only capable of dull Dadrock. Thankfully, we were wrong. Oasis breaking up was just thing the guitarist-turned-frontman needed. His deftly executed—and surprisingly eclectic—debut features flourishes that Liam never would have allowed: honky-tonk horns (“The Death of You and Me”), vibe-y Chemical Brothers beats (“AKA…What a Life!”) and social commentary (“Soldier Boys and Jesus Freaks”). Album closer “Stop the Clocks” may be a spiritual brother to The La’s “Looking Glass,” but the chiming epic is also one of the best tunes the Britpop hero has written since “Champagne Supernova.” It’s inevitable that Oasis will one day reform for the cash-in comeback, but let’s hope Noel delays this reconciliation for as long as possible. That way, we’ll get a chance to enjoy him spreading his high-flying, creative wings again.